Intelligent infrastructure management user device

• US 9,210,049 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2012
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Polland, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Huy D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hall, Teisha D
• Application Number:
  US13/683,866
• Publication Number:
  US 20130128758A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/24 using dedicated network management hardware
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning

Abstract

An infrastructure management device comprises a processor configured to obtain port status and networking device status for each of one or more physicals networking devices in a system. The device also comprises a display unit coupled to the processor and configured to display one or more virtual networking devices, and a user input element configured to provide user input to the processor. The port status indicates that a cable is inserted into the first port and the processor obtains cable data identifying one or more characteristics of the cable inserted into the first port. The processor is configured to compare the one or more characteristics of the cable inserted into the first port with one or more characteristics defined in the work order. The processor is configured to provide a notification to a user indicating whether the one or more characteristics of the inserted cable comply with the work order.

Claims

1. An infrastructure management system comprising:

a plurality of networking devices, each networking device having a plurality of ports;

a connectivity manager coupled to each of the plurality of networking devices via a first network, wherein the connectivity manager is configured to communicate with the plurality of networking devices to obtain status of each of the networking devices and port status of each of the plurality of ports;

a database coupled to the connectivity manager and configured to store the port status and networking device status obtained by the connectivity manager;

an infrastructure management device coupled to the connectivity manager via a second network, wherein the infrastructure management device is configured to communicate with the connectivity manager to obtain the port status and networking device status of the plurality of ports;

wherein the infrastructure management device is configured to display one or more virtual networking devices based on the obtained port status and networking device status, each virtual networking device representing one of the plurality of networking devices;

wherein the infrastructure management device is further configured to monitor the port status of a first port and a second port corresponding to a work order, the work order defining one or more characteristics of a desired cable to couple the first port to the second port;

wherein when the infrastructure management device determines that one end of a cable is inserted into the first port, the infrastructure management device obtains cable data from the connectivity manager, the cable data including one or more characteristics of the cable inserted into the first port;

wherein the infrastructure management device compares the one or more characteristics of the inserted cable with the corresponding one or more characteristics of the desired cable defined by the work order and provides a notification to a user indicating whether or not the one or more characteristics of the inserted cable match the one or more characteristics defined by the work order.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the infrastructure management device is configured to display a textual message which indicates whether or not the one or more characteristics of the inserted cable match the one or more characteristics of the work order.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the infrastructure management device causes a light emitting diode (LED) which corresponds to the first port on the networking device to change color, the color indicative of a whether or not the one or more characteristics of the inserted cable match the one or more characteristics of the work order.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the infrastructure management device causes a virtual LED on the virtual networking device to change color, the virtual LED corresponding to the virtual port that represents the first port and the color matching the color of the LED corresponding to the first port.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein, when the one or more characteristics of the cable inserted into the first port do not match the one or more characteristics defined by the work order, the infrastructure management device is configured to request user input to override the work order;

and

when user input indicating that the work order is to be overridden, the infrastructure management device is configured to update the work order with the one or more characteristics of the cable inserted into the first port.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the infrastructure management device is configured to monitor a link consisting of two ports coupled to one another via a cable, wherein if the cable is removed from one of the two ports, the infrastructure management device is configured to produce an alert indicating that the cable has been removed.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the infrastructure management device is configured to provide the alert to one or more users via an email or an automated phone call.

8. An infrastructure management device comprising:

a processor configured to obtain port status and networking device status for each of one or more physical networking devices in a system;

a display unit coupled to the processor and configured to display one or more virtual networking devices, each virtual networking device representing one of the one or more physical networking devices based on the port status and networking device status;

a user input element configured to provide user input to the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to periodically update the port status of a first port and a second port associated with a work order;

when the port status indicates that a cable is inserted into the first port, the processor obtains cable data identifying one or more characteristics of the cable inserted into the first port;

wherein the processor is configured to compare the one or more characteristics of the cable inserted into the first port with one or more characteristics defined in the work order;

wherein the processor is configured to provide a notification to a user indicating whether the one or more characteristics of the inserted cable comply with the one or more characteristics defined in the work order.

9. The infrastructure management device of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to cause the display unit to display a textual message which indicates whether or not the one or more characteristics of the inserted cable comply with the one or more characteristics defined in the work order.

10. The infrastructure management device of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to output a control signal that causes a light emitting diode (LED) on the networking device which corresponds to the first port to change color, the color being indicative of a whether or not the one or more characteristics of the inserted cable comply with the one or more characteristics defined in the work order.

11. The infrastructure management device of claim 10, wherein the processor causes the display unit to change a color of a virtual LED on the virtual networking device, the virtual LED corresponding to the virtual port that represents the first port and the color matching the color of the LED corresponding to the first port.

12. The infrastructure management device of claim 8, wherein, when the one or more characteristics of the cable inserted into the first port do not comply with the one or more characteristics defined in the work order, the processor is configured to cause the display unit to display a request for user input to override the work order;

and

when the user input element receives user input indicating that the work order is to be overridden, the processor is configured to update the work order with the one or more characteristics of the cable inserted into the first port.

13. The infrastructure management device of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to monitor a link comprising at least two ports coupled to one another via a cable, wherein if the cable is removed from one of the at least two ports, the processor is configured to output an alert indicating that the cable has been removed from the respective port.

14. The infrastructure management device of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to output the alert to one or more users via an email or an automated phone call.

15. A method of processing a work order, the method comprising:

displaying one or more virtual networking devices on a display unit, each virtual networking device representing one or more physical networking devices;

monitoring port status of a first port and a second port associated with the work order to determine when a cable is inserted into the first port or the second port;

when the cable is inserted into the first port, obtaining one or more characteristics of the cable inserted into the first port;

comparing the one or more characteristics of the cable inserted into the first port with one or more corresponding characteristics defined in the work order; and

if at least one of the one or more characteristics of the cable inserted into the first port does not match the corresponding characteristic defined in the work order, displaying an indication of a mismatch on a display unit.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein if at least one of the one or more characteristics of the cable inserted into the first port does not match the corresponding characteristic defined in the work order, changing a physical light emitting diode (LED) associated with the first port on a networking device to indicate the mismatch.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising changing a color of a virtual LED on a virtual networking device displayed on the display unit to match the color of the physical LED, the virtual LED associated with a virtual port that represents the first port.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising, if at least one of the one or more characteristics of the cable inserted into the first port does not match the corresponding characteristic defined in the work order, displaying a request for user input to override the work order;

and

when user input indicates that the work order is to be overridden, updating the work order with the one or more characteristics of the cable inserted into the first port.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

obtaining one or more characteristics of a cable inserted into the second port;

comparing a cable identification number of the cable inserted into the first port with a cable identification number of the cable inserted into the second port;

if the cable identification number of the cable inserted into the first port matches a cable identification number of the cable inserted into the second port and the one or more characteristics of the cable inserted into the first port match the corresponding characteristics defined in the work order, displaying a notification on the display unit that the work order has been completed.

20. A program product comprising a processor-readable medium on which program instructions are embodied, wherein the program instructions are configured, when executed by at least one programmable processor, to cause the at least one programmable processor to:

output commands to a display unit to display one or more virtual networking devices, each virtual networking device representing one or more physical networking devices;

obtain port status of a first port and a second port associated with a work order;

determine when a cable is inserted into the first port based on the port status;

obtain one or more characteristics of the cable inserted into the first port when the cable is inserted into the first port;

compare the one or more characteristics of the cable inserted into the first port with one or more corresponding characteristics defined in the work order; and

if at least one of the one or more characteristics of the cable inserted into the first port does not match the corresponding characteristic defined in the work order, output control signal to a display unit to cause the display unit to display an indication of a mismatch.

21. The program product of claim 20, wherein the program instructions are further configured to cause the at least one programmable processor to output a control signal to change a physical light emitting diode (LED) associated with the first port on a networking device to indicate the mismatch if at least one of the one or more characteristics of the cable inserted into the first port does not match the corresponding characteristic defined in the work order.

22. The program product of claim 21, wherein the program instructions are further configured to cause the at least one programmable processor to output a control signal to the display unit to change a color of a virtual LED on a virtual networking device displayed on the display unit to match the color of the physical LED, the virtual LED associated with a virtual port that represents the first port.

23. The program product of claim 20, wherein the program instructions are further configured to cause the at least one programmable processor to output a control signal to the display unit to display a request for user input to override the work order if at least one of the one or more characteristics of the cable inserted into the first port does not match the corresponding characteristic defined in the work order;

and

to update the work order with the one or more characteristics of the cable inserted into the first port when user input indicates that the work order is to be overridden.

24. The program product of claim 20, wherein the program instructions are further configured to cause the at least one programmable processor to:

obtain one or more characteristics of a cable inserted into the second port;

compare a cable identification number of the cable inserted into the first port with a cable identification number of the cable inserted into the second port; and

if the cable identification number of the cable inserted into the first port matches a cable identification number of the cable inserted into the second port and the one or more characteristics of the cable inserted into the first port match the corresponding characteristics defined in the work order, output a control signal to the display unit to display a notification that the work order has been completed.